Midwich sounds out French market with latest buy

Purchase of St Etienne-based Sound Directions marks Midwich's third audio acquisition in two years

Midwich has continued its audio shopping spree by acquiring French distributor Sound Directions.

Based in St Etienne, Sound Directions - which trades as Perfect Sound - specialises in professional audio products and serves predominantly the French and French-speaking Swiss market.

The deal follows on from Midwich's acquisitions of Spanish and UK audio distributors Earpro and Sound Technology in 2017, respectively.

Midwich turned over £472m in its last financial year, with its French arm, Sidev, contributing £39m to the total.

The distributor, whose share price has nearly trebled since it listed on the London Stock Exchange in May 2016, also operates in Germany and across Europe and Australia.

Previous shareholders, managing director Christophe Palluat de Besset (pictured) and head of sales Antonio Fernandes, will remain on board and will lead the growth of the group's professional audio business in France, Midwich said.

"We are excited by the prospect of joining the Midwich Group and working with our new colleagues," Palluat de Besset said in a statement.

"We are ambitious to take our audio business to the next level and further enhance the service we can provide to our customers and vendors. Midwich's expertise in the European audio market, coupled with the synergies of working with Sidev, make the Midwich Group an ideal partner to achieve this".

Sidev managing director, Mathieu Payet, added: "I am delighted to welcome Christophe, Antonio and the rest of the Perfect Sound team to the Midwich Group. The technical expertise and experience of Perfect Sound in the audio market provide an excellent complement to Sidev's offering in the French video market."